Digital Footprint

Have you Googled yourself lately? Did you know that you can leave a digital trail of online data that others can follow? This is called your digital footprint and it can include:

• Posts and comments on social media
• Email that are sent
• Websites you visit 
• Information you submit to services online

I try to have continuous discussions with all our students that they must be mindful of what they post online, especially at the elementary level with our 1:1 Chromebook initiative as technology is more accessible. Potential employers or college admission counselors can and will Google a student's name to see what type of digital footprint they have. Is it positive or negative?  

We talk about how to be safe, respectful and responsible with our digital footprint and try to ask these questions before posting something:

1. Is what I'm posting going to be harmful to me or someone else?
2. Am I posting private information or info that is OK to be public?
3. What is my purpose for posting something?

It's always beneficial to have an open, honest conversations with students about what they post online. Remind them to check their privacy settings on accounts. Many students are always surprised that they can control who sees what online. Reviewing privacy settings can help students have a safer digital footprint. 

Resources to talk about digital footprints:

• Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds
• Follow The Digital Trail from Common Sense Media